Turkish forces occupy Iraq under the pretext of combatting the Kurdish PKK group, which recently declared a ceasefire after its leader issued a call to disarm

The Turkish military has significantly expanded its presence in Iraq since the leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) declared an immediate ceasefire early last month.

“The Turkish military presence in northern Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, has so far reached more than 80 locations, ranging from barracks and outposts to bases housing heavy weapons, including the Zilkan base near Bashiq. The number of Turkish soldiers within the Iraqi borders will exceed 10,000,” Adi Abdul Hadi, a leader in the Fatah Alliance, told Baghdad Today.

The Fatah Alliance is part of the Coordination Framework (CF), a coalition of Shia parties that has significant influence in Iraq’s political landscape.

“Turkish forces have reinforced their presence in at least 12 locations following the Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s announcement of a cessation of armed operations. The Turkish movements represent a continued reinforcement and advance deep into Iraq, which has now reached more than 140 kilometers, raising many questions,” he went on to say, adding that “all the excuses Ankara had been using regarding the nature of its military presence in northern Iraq have ended.”

He also called for increased pressure on Turkiye to dismantle these military sites, stressing that “there is no justification for the Turkish presence, especially with the recurring artillery shelling and air strikes.”

Ankara’s military has been operating in Iraq for years under the pretext of securing its border with Kurdish militant groups, namely the PKK – which is outlawed in Turkiye and has been engaged in armed insurgency against the Turkish state since the 1980s.

In August 2024, Baghdad and Ankara signed a deal that was meant to see the Turkish military turn over the base in the northern Iraqi town of Bashiqa to the Iraqi army.

In addition to that, the agreement called for Baghdad and Ankara to build a joint military coordination center based in Iraq. However, Turkish forces are still present at the site.

The Turkish army occupied the Bashiqa base in 2016.

Over the years, many civilians have been killed by Turkish airstrikes and artillery shelling in the northern Kurdistan region of Iraq. Ankara’s bases have also been targeted with rocket attacks.

Last month, the PKK declared an immediate ceasefire in its insurgent war against Turkiye.

This came after the group’s leader Abdullah Ocalan issued a message from his prison cell on an island off Istanbul, calling on the PKK to lay down its arms and dissolve.

Despite this, clashes erupted between PKK fighters and Turkish forces in northern Iraq Duhok province a day later.

In early February, Iraqi MP Hussein al-Ameri condemned the “unprecedented Turkish expansion” in Iraqi territory.

The Cradle Media report